Device with passive receiver

ABSTRACT

A wireless communications apparatus includes a wake-up receiver adapted to receive a wake-up signal and an initially powered-off, sleeping wireless communications transceiver. When the wake-up receiver receives the wake-up signal, it can in turn power on the wireless communications transceiver. In another aspect, the invention includes an apparatus for sending a wake-up signal to the wake-up receiver. The wake-up transmitter and the wake-up receiver can communicate via a variety of wireless communications protocols, including the BLUETOOTH™ standard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to wireless networks andin particular to an apparatus and method to activate a wireless devicethat is powered off.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/165,624, filed Jun. 7, 2002.

[0003] Wireless networks may be used to transmit signals from devicesthat are only activated rarely. For example, a sensor detectingglass-breakage in a security alarm system may only rarely be activated.In such a design, the system may continuously power the sensor andprocessor to monitor for glass breakage while the associated wirelesstransceiver may be powered-down to save battery power. Upon detectingglass breakage, the sensor/processor module can power up the associatedwireless transceiver and use it to transmit signals associated with thedetected event to a central control panel. This works to “wake up” thetransceiver from within the device. But how could the control panelquery the status of the glass breakage detector since its transmitter isnormally in the off state—that is, “wake up” the transceiver fromoutside the device?

[0004] Such a dilemma increases in importance in the case of implanteddevices. Consider for example an implanted medical device such as acombination heart monitor/defibrillator that is implanted in a person'sbody. In like manner to the previous example, the heart monitor could“wake up” a powered-down associated transceiver upon detecting adangerous heart condition or a heart attack. But how could a medicalprofessional access the heart monitor when the transceiver is in thepowered-down state?

[0005] In the art are known systems to manage the power condition of thetransceiver and yet make it available to receive external requests. Forexample, the transceiver may power up on a schedule and check formessages. The schedule may be synchronized with the associated networkor it may be intrinsic only to the transceiver itself. This schedulingapproach allows the transceiver to be shut down most of the time and soconserve precious battery power. There are at least two problems withthis method. First, the transceiver is still being powered-up; usingwhat is often critical battery power. Indeed, in some transceiversystems, the receiving component draws more power than the transmittingcomponent. Second, some wireless networks require acquisition time forthe network to synchronize, handshake, verify security protocols, etc.This can be a time consuming and by correlation, a power consumingprocess. For many devices that may be associated with wireless networks,this is an unacceptable solution because the power draw cannot besupported.

[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,115,236, 5,553,058, and 5,973,611 show the useof signals to remotely wake up a receiver. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,145,380 and4,963,887 show the use of transmitted radio frequency energy to provideenergy to a responder system.

[0007] What is needed in the art is a system to activate a transceiver,such system requiring little or no power draw of its own. In addition,it is preferable that the activation signal be transmitted on a network(i.e., frequency or data communications protocol) distinct from theprimary network used by the receiver to be activated.

SUMMARY

[0008] One skilled in the art will readily recognize that theembodiments described solve all of these problems and many more notmentioned expressly herein.

[0009] A significant advantage of the present invention is that itprovides non-contact, non-line-of-sight operation that can activate atransceiver that is powered-down.

[0010] This summary is intended to provide a brief overview of some ofthe embodiments of the present system, and is not intended in anexclusive or exhaustive sense, and the scope of the invention is to bedetermined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

[0011] In one embodiment disclosed herein is a method to use radiofrequency energy to activate a primary transceiver that is normallyinactive or powered off. An electromagnetic field is used to excite anearby antenna and its associated companion receiver or transceiver andoptionally its processing and memory circuits. Based upon the energyreceived and data that may be carried in the electromagnetic energyfield by this companion communications system, another more robustprimary transceiver system is activated for communications. In addition,the data sent and received in the companion system may carryidentification information, security checks, or instructions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1A is a diagram depicting inductive transference of energyand data (coupling) between two antenna coils.

[0013]FIG. 1B is a diagram depicting the propagation coupling betweentwo antennas.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the presentsystem.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the presentsystem.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the presentsystem.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the presentsystem.

DETAILED SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

[0018] This detailed description provides a number of differentembodiments of the present system. The embodiments provided herein arenot intended in an exclusive or limited sense, and variations may existin organization, dimension, hardware, software, mechanical design andconfiguration without departing from the claimed invention, the scope ofwhich is provided by the attached claims and equivalents thereof.

[0019] The present system provides many benefits, including but notlimited to those described. Many other benefits will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the presentdescription.

[0020] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/165,624 filed Jun. 7, 2002 ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0021] About the Transmission of Radio Frequency Energy

[0022] The present invention involves the transmission of energy anddata wirelessly using radio frequencies. There are two primary methodsof doing this as displayed in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. They are inductivecoupling and propagation coupling.

[0023]FIG. 1A depicts an example of inductive coupling otherwise knownas magnetic coupling. Coil 100, which can be considered a type of anantenna, has voltage applied to it, which induces magnetic field 105.Coil 110 placed in the magnetic field 105 has voltage induced into it bythe effect of the magnetic field 105. This induced voltage can be usedto drive circuits attached to coil 110 with or without any other sourceof power and thus there is transference of radio frequency energy (RFE)123. The device associated with coil 110 is often known as a‘transponder’, that is, transmit-respond, because the energy can drive aresponse transmission. In addition, applying fluctuations to the voltageand current on coil 100, causes corresponding fluctuations in themagnetic field. To carry data efficiently between the two coils 100 and110 requires the data to be superimposed upon a rhythmically varyingfield. This rhythm is known as a sinusoidal wave and is the carrier wavefor the data. By altering one of the three primary aspects of the wave,including its amplitude, its frequency, or its phase, the data can betransferred. These methods are known respectively as amplitude shiftkeying (ASK), frequency shift keying (FSK) and phase shift keying (PSK).Although these three are the primary methods, there are more than adozen various methods to carry data in the electromagnetic wave. Inaddition, there are multiple access methods, such as CDMA, WCDM, TDMA,FDMA and many others. These access methods are strategies to put moredata in the same bandwidth. Therefore, data 127 from coil 100 to coil110 can be transferred in the field 105, as well as RFE 123. By usingenergy 123 or an alternate source of energy, data from coil 110 can bereturned to coil 100. Thus the flow of data can be bi-directional. Ifcoil 110 has no source of energy except field 105, it is said to bepassive. If it has an additional source of energy, it is said to beactive.

[0024]FIG. 1B depicts an example of a propagating coupling otherwiseknown as electric coupling. The principles of the induction couplingdescribed above, likewise apply to propagation coupling with thefollowing principle difference: the propagation coupling uses electricfrequency energy 205 instead of a magnetic field 105. This allowsgreater range for the transmissions as electric frequency energy canmore readily be transmitted over greater distances than magnetic energy.

[0025] The RFE 123 transmitted by either of these methods is used in thepresent invention. These methods allow a primary transceiver to be in asleeping condition; that is, not drawing power. This condition allows adevice with power constraints to have an available a primary robustcommunication network that is powered down but is activated by theenergy of a companion wireless system as described in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0026] Network 120 may be of a wide range of frequencies. For example,it may be low frequency such as 100-500 kHz, medium frequencies such as10-15 MHz, or high frequencies such as 850 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.8 GHz. Ingeneral, lower frequencies tend to have shorter ranges, slower datarates, and lower costs associated with devices. These specificfrequencies are not meant to be exclusive or inclusive but are providedas examples.

[0027]FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention. Depicted inFIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of components of the presentcommunication system. An Active System 200 is depicted having twomethods of transmission. We describe the System 200 as ‘Active’ becauseits wireless bi-directional communication transceiver (WBCT) 280 ispowered up and ready to receive and transmit communications. Incontrast, Sleeping Device 300 is described as ‘Sleeping’ because itsprimary WBCT 380 is not normally in a powered up state. Active System200 uses a companion wake-up transmitter 220 to send RFE 123 to excitecompanion wake-up receiver 320. Wireless wake-up receiver 320 is excitedby RFE 123 and activates WBCT 380. Now that it is activated, primarytransceivers 280 and 380 establish communications 180.

[0028] Network 180 is a short-range, bi-directional, wireless network.Examples of network 180 include standard protocols such as Bluetooth,HomeRF, or WiFi (802.11). Or network 180 may be a proprietary standard.

[0029] It would be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that network120 and network 180 might be in the same or different frequency bands.Likewise, wake-up transmitter 220 and wake up receiver 320 might be inthe same or different frequency bands. For example, network 180 could bea network compatible with the Bluetooth protocol and network 120 mightoperate in the same or a nearby frequency band, around 2.4 GHz.Alternatively, network 180 may be of Bluetooth protocol, whereas network120 might operate at a different frequency, for example, 850 MHz. Itwould be further appreciated by one skilled in the art, that wake-uptransmitter 220 and transceiver 280 might share one or more components,such as the same antenna, the same exciters or transmitters and the samecontrol circuits including processors and memory. In the same way,wake-up receiver 320 and transceiver 380 may share one or morecomponents. Nevertheless, we can still refer to Device 300 as normally‘sleeping’. For example, if Sleeping Device 300 uses a Bluetoothprotocol for its transceiver 380, it may normally keep the transceiverin a powered down condition and thus unable to receive Bluetoothtransmissions. This is of advantage, because Bluetooth, which requireslimited power compared with many short-range networks, requiresrelatively large power requirements compared with network 120. Receptioncan require more power than transmission in Bluetooth, whereas reception(and transmission) may require little or no power for receiver 320besides the power received (RFE 123). However, RFE 123 may be receivedand activate the Bluetooth protocol in the transceiver or even activatepower to other components of the device such as processors, sensors, ormemory. Thus, Sleeping Device 300 may have a few or none of itssubcomponents powered, and yet it can be externally activated by wake-uptransmitter 220 and associated RFE 123. It would be further appreciatedby one skilled in the art that transceivers functioning in differentfrequency bands and/or with different protocols can exist as distinctphysical embodiments, or a single transceiver can function in multiplefrequency bands with multiple protocols through the use of softwarealone or a combination of software and hardware. Thus, devices 200 and300 may use distinct hardware and/or software to serve primary network180 and companion network 120 or they may share hardware in serving thedifferent networks.

[0030]FIG. 3 depicts a further embodiment of the present system. FIG. 3is a block diagram depicting functional aspects of the present system.Companion wake-up transmitter 220 is preferably configured as atransceiver, and likewise is receiver 320 configured as a transceiver.Thus companion network 120 has full two-way data functionality.Transmissions from transceiver 320 to transceiver 220 may optionally bepowered by energy 123 or supplemented by power source 345.

[0031] Transceiver 220 preferably includes data 127 in itscommunications to device 300. In one embodiment, this data includes anidentifier code unique to device 300. Filter 322 compares thetransmitted code to a stored code and if they match, activates furthercomponents of device 300. If the ID codes do not match no further actionis taken. This aspect of the system allows device 300 to ignore spuriousor unrelated energy 123.

[0032] In one embodiment, the data includes instructions to device 300.These instructions may include programming, tests, requests for specificresponses through network 180 or network 120, instructions to processcertain preprogrammed options, encrypted or non-encrypted securitycodes, or instructions related to device(s) connected at connection 390.Instructions are processed at module 324 which may or may not shareprocessors or memory with device 300 located at module 350. In oneembodiment, the communications network 180 cannot be established unlesssecurity protocols are first met by data transmitted in network 120. Inone embodiment, network 120 is able to query status about device 300 orassociated connections 390 when network 180 is not functioning. Forexample, power 340 may be a battery and it may be dead. Other types oftroubleshooting or system status information may be provided.

[0033] In one embodiment, network 120 acts as a backup to network 180 ifnetwork 180 fails.

[0034] The processing of ID codes and instructions may be powered by RFE123 or optional power 345. Power 345 may be the same or a differentsource as power 340.

[0035] In one embodiment, network 120 provides connection information toaccelerate the link-up of network 180. For example, but withoutlimitation, this data may include timing data, frequency hoppingpatterns, network protocols, etc.

[0036]FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment of the present system. In thisembodiment, active system 200 preferably includes a long-range,bi-directional transceiver 260. For example, this might be a transceivercompatible with cellular network protocols such as analog, ReFLEX, CDMA,GSM or others which are depicted as long-range network 160. (See furtherinformation on long-range bi-directional wireless networks includedherein.) Long-range transceiver 260 is in communication with a remotesystem 400 through long-range network 160. Remote system 400 is able tobe in communication with device 300 through the chain of networkconnections as depicted. If device 300 is ‘sleeping’, then remote system400 sends a ‘wake-up’ and associated identification and instructioncodes to system 200 through network 160 and associated transceiver 260.System 200 uses companion transceiver 220 to initiate communicationswith device 300 through network 120 and its associated transceivers 220and 320. Once communications are initiated, full two-way communicationsare possible through long-range network 160 connected through primarynetwork 180.

[0037]FIG. 5 depicts a further embodiment of the present system. In thisembodiment, sleeping device 300 preferable has a long-rangebi-directional wireless transceiver 360 instead of a short-rangetransceiver as in the previous embodiment. However, as in the previousembodiment, remote system 400 initiates communication with device 300through intermediary system 200 and companion network 120. Oncecommunication is initiated, it is conducted without system 200, asdevice 300 has a long-range transceiver 360 and can connect moredirectly to system 400. Thus system 200 is used only as a ‘wake-up’,authorization, and instruction messenger to device 300.

[0038] About Data and Communication Protocols

[0039] Many data protocols are contemplated by the present invention.For example, such protocols include, without limitation, TCP/IP, ISDN,Bluetooth, CDMA/TDMA, Serial, synchronous/asynchronous, Wi/Fi, IEEE802.15, etc. These protocols are described in more detail below.

[0040] About Short-Range Bi-Directional Networks

[0041] The figures illustrate communication across a short-rangebi-directional wireless network 180 and related modules 280 and 380.

[0042] In one embodiment, the short-range wireless network utilizes aspread spectrum frequency hopping transceiver. This transceiver maycommunicate using a protocol compatible with BLUETOOTH®. BLUETOOTH®refers to a wireless, digital communication protocol using a low formfactor transceiver that operates using spread spectrum frequency hoppingat a frequency of around 2.45 GHz.

[0043] BLUETOOTH® is a trademark registered by Telefonaktiebolaget LMEricsson of Stockholm, Sweden and refers to technology developed by anindustry consortium known as the BLUETOOTH® Special Interest Group.BLUETOOTH® operates at a frequency of approximately 2.45 GHz, utilizes afrequency hopping (on a plurality of frequencies) spread spectrumscheme, and as implemented at present, provides a digital data transferrate of approximately 1 Mb/second. Future implementations will includehigher data transfer rates. In one embodiment, the present systemincludes a transceiver in compliance with BLUETOOTH® technicalspecification version 1.0, available athttp://www.bluetooth.com/dev/specifications.asp. In one embodiment, thepresent system includes a transceiver in compliance with standardsestablished, or anticipated to be established, by the Bluetooth SpecialInterest Group.

[0044] In one embodiment, the present system includes a transceiver incompliance with standards established, or anticipated to be established,by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., (IEEE).The IEEE 802.15 WPAN standard is anticipated to include the technologydeveloped by the BLUETOOTH® Special Interest Group. WPAN refers toWireless Personal Area Networks. The IEEE 802.15 WPAN standard isexpected to define a standard for wireless communications within apersonal operating space (POS) which encircles a person. The standard isavailable at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15.

[0045] In one embodiment, the transceiver includes a wireless,bi-directional, transceiver suitable for short-range, omni-directionalcommunication that allows ad hoc networking of multiple transceivers forpurposes of extending the effective range of communication. Ad hocnetworking refers to the ability of one transceiver to automaticallydetect and establish a digital communication link with anothertransceiver. The resulting network, known as a piconet, enables eachtransceiver to exchange digital data with the other transceiver.According to one embodiment, BLUETOOTH® involves a wireless transceivertransmitting a digital signal and periodically monitoring a radiofrequency for an incoming digital message encoded in a network protocol.The transceiver communicates digital data in the network protocol uponreceiving an incoming digital message.

[0046] According to one definition, and subject to the vagaries of radiodesign and environmental factors, short-range may refer to systemsdesigned primarily for use in and around a premises and thus, the rangegenerally is below a mile. Short-range communications may also beconstrued as point-to-point communications, examples of which includethose compatible with protocols such as BLUETOOTH®, HomeRF™(http://www.homerf.org), and the IEEE 802.11 WAN standard(http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11). Long-range, thus, may beconstrued as networked communications with a range in excess ofshort-range communications. Examples of long-range communication mayinclude, Aeris MicroBurst cellular communication system, and variousnetworked pager, cellular telephone or, in some cases, radio frequencycommunication systems.

[0047] In the event that the present subject matter includes atransceiver compatible with BLUETOOTH® protocol, for example, then thedevice may have sufficient range to conduct bi-directionalcommunications over relatively short-range distances, such asapproximately 10 to 1,000 meters or more. In some applications, thisdistance allows communications throughout a premise.

[0048] The network module may include a separate, integrated or softwarebased short-range bi-directional wireless module. The short-rangenetwork may be based upon HomeRF, 802.11, BLUETOOTH® or otherconventional or unconventional protocols. However, these are short-rangenetworks and the meaning imposed herein is to include premises andfacility based wireless networks and not to describe long-range networkssuch as cellular telephone networks used to communicate over longdistances. Such a system may include programmable or automaticallyselecting electronics to decide whether to conduct communicationsbetween the network module and an optional base station using theshort-range module or the network module. In one embodiment the systemmay employ different portions of the network to provide short-range orlong-range network connections, depending on the distance between thedevices and the base stations. In one such embodiment, the networkautomatically adjusts for different required transmission distances.

[0049] In one embodiment, the transceiver is compatible with both along-range communication protocol and a short-range communicationprotocol. For example, a person located a long distance away, such asseveral miles, may communicate with the transceiver using a cellulartelephone compatible with the long-range protocol of transceiver.

[0050] Other short-range communication protocols are also contemplatedand the foregoing examples are not to be construed as limitations butmerely as examples.

[0051] About Long-Range Bi-Directional Networks

[0052] The figures depict the use of long-range bi-directionalcommunication modules 260 and 360. For example, in one embodiment,long-range communication modules 260 and 360 include cellular telephonetransceivers.

[0053] These long-range communications modules connect to a long-range,bi-directional network 160. Such a system incorporates an existingwireless communications network, such as a cellular network, satellitenetwork, paging network, narrowband PCS, narrowband trunk radio, orother wireless communication network. Combinations of such networks andother embodiments may be substituted without departing from the presentsystem.

[0054] In one embodiment, the long-range wireless network includes acellular communications network. In one embodiment, the long-rangewireless network includes a paging network. In one embodiment thelong-range wireless network includes a satellite network. In oneembodiment the long-range wireless network includes a wideband ornarrowband PCS network. In one embodiment the long-range wirelessnetwork includes a wideband or narrowband trunk radio module. Othernetworks are possible without departing from the present system. In oneembodiment, the network module supports multiple network systems, suchas a cellular module and a two-way paging module, for example. In suchembodiments, the system may prefer one form of network communicationsover another and may switch depending on a variety of factors such asavailable service, signal strength, or types of communications beingsupported. For example, the cellular network may be used as a defaultand the paging network may take over once cellular service is eitherweak or otherwise unavailable. Other combinations are possible withoutdeparting from the present system.

[0055] The long-range wireless network may include any consumer orproprietary network designed to serve users in range of the detectionsystem, including, but not limited to, a cellular network such as analogor digital cellular systems employing such protocols and designs asCDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX™, ReFLEX™, iDEN™, TETRA™, DECT,DataTAC™, and Mobitex™, RAMNET™ or Ardis™ or other protocols such astrunk radio, Microburst™, Cellemetry™, satellite, or other analogue ordigital wireless networks or the control channels or portions of variousnetworks. The networks may be proprietary or public, special purpose orbroadly capable. However, these are long-range networks and the meaningimposed herein is not to describe a premises or facility based type ofwireless network.

[0056] The long-range wireless network may employ various messagingprotocols. In one embodiment Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) isemployed as a messaging protocol over the network. WAP is a protocolcreated by an international body representing numerous wireless andcomputing industry companies. WAP is designed to work with most wirelessnetworks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN,TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, and Mobitex and also to work with some Internetprotocols such as HTTP and IP. Other messaging protocols such as iMode™,WML, SMS and other conventional and unconventional protocols may beemployed without departing from the design of the present embodiment.

[0057] As an example, these long-range communication protocols describedabove may include, but are not limited to, cellular telephone protocols,one-way or two-way pager protocols, and PCS protocols. Typically, PCSsystems operate in the 1900 MHZ frequency range. One example, known asCode-Division Multiple Access (CDMA, Qualcomm Inc., one variant isIS-95) uses spread spectrum techniques. CDMA uses the full availablespectrum and individual messages are encoded with a pseudo-randomdigital sequence. Another example, Global Systems for Mobilecommunications (GSM), is one of the leading digital cellular systems andallows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency. Anotherexample, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA, one variant known asIS-136) uses time-division multiplexing (TDM) in which a radio frequencyis time divided and slots are allocated to multiple calls. TDMA is usedby the GSM digital cellular system. Another example, 3G, promulgated bythe ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland)represents a third generation of mobile communications technology withanalog and digital PCS representing first and second generations. 3G isoperative over wireless air interfaces such as GSM, TDMA, and CDMA. TheEDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) air interface has beendeveloped to meet the bandwidth needs of 3G. Another example, Aloha,enables satellite and terrestrial radio transmissions. Another example,Short Message Service (SMS), allows communications of short messageswith a cellular telephone, fax machine and an IP address. Messagestypically have a length of 160 alpha-numeric characters. Anotherexample, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is another standard usedfor wireless communications and operates at transmission speeds fargreater than GSM. GPRS can be used for communicating either small burstsof data, such as e-mail and Web browsing, or large volumes of data.

[0058] In one embodiment, a long-range communication protocol is basedon one way or two-way pager technology. Examples of one way pagerprotocols include Post Office Code Standardisation Advisory Group(POCSAG), Swedish Format (MBS), the Radio Data System (RDS, SwedishTelecommunications Administration) format and the European Radio MessageSystem (ERMES, European Telecommunications Standards Institute) format,Golay Format (Motorola), NEC-D3 Format (NEC America), Mark IV/V/VIFormats (Multitone Electronics), Hexadecimal Sequential Code (HSC),FLEX™ (Motorola) format, Advanced Paging Operations Code (APOC, PhilipsPaging) and others. Examples of two-way pager protocols include ReFLEX™(Motorola) format, InFLEXion (Motorola) format, NexNet (NexusTelecommunications Ltd. of Israel) format and others.

[0059] Other long-range communication protocols are also contemplatedand the foregoing examples are not to be construed as limitations butmerely as examples.

[0060] About Basic Components

[0061] Devices 200 and 300 have basic components: processors, memory(RAM/ROM/EEPROM/DRAM/SRAM/DRIVES/etc), screens, input devices,microphones, speakers, vibrators, ports for data connections,(transceivers covered at length already), power supplies, etc. One ofordinary skill in the art will be aware of these and other basiccomponents.

[0062] About the Active System

[0063] The active system 200 may be of several different designs. Forexample, in one embodiment it includes a response messaging capabletwo-way pager. This is a service where a two-way pager receives amessage and optional multiple-choice responses. The user can select theappropriate responses. Such a design may be adapted to provide basiccontrol options related to the system.

[0064] In one embodiment, the active system 200 includes a programmabletwo-way paging device such as the Motorola PageWriter™ 2000. This is aclass of devices that acts as both a two-way pager and a handheldcomputer also known as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

[0065] In one embodiment, the active system 200 includes a cellulartelephone. The cell phone may be analog or digital in any of the varioustechnologies employed by the cell phone industry such as PCS, or CDMA,or TDMA, or others. The cell phone may have programmable capability suchas is found in a Nokia™ 9000 series of devices.

[0066] In embodiments where the user employs standard or adapted pagingor cell phones as their active system 200, security passwords may beentered by using numeric or other keys on a phone. In one embodiment,the security password may be entered by speaking words. In thisembodiment, the system may use word recognition, voice recognition or acombination of these technologies. In the embodiment of a pager, adistinct order of pressing certain keys could provide the equivalent ofa security code. For example, 3 short and 1 long on a certain key; oronce on key ‘a’, once on key ‘b’, and once more on key ‘a’.

[0067] In one embodiment, the active system 200 includes a handheldcomputer. Some PDAs offer programmable capability and connectivity tovarious types of long-range wireless networks. An example of this typeof device is the PalmPilot™ or Palm series of devices manufactured by3-COM™. In these embodiments where a programmable active system 200 isused, such as a PalmPilot, PageWriter or programmable cell phone, theprogrammable nature of the devices facilitates the implementation ofindustry-standard designs and allows for the development of a programwritten for the devices.

[0068] In one embodiment, active system 200 is a handheld device runninga version of Microsoft Windows® such as a Compaq IPAQ®.

[0069] In one embodiment, a special manufactured device may bemanufactured to serve the needs of the system user.

[0070] In one embodiment, a special manufactured device is connected toan off the shelf hand-held device in order to deliver the preferredfeatures of active system 200.

[0071] Alternative Embodiments and Networks Connected to the ActiveSystem 200

[0072] The active system 200 may include a first transceiver compatiblewith BLUETOOTH® or other short-range wireless network as describedherein. Active system 200 may provide a repeater service to receive amessage using BLUETOOTH® and to retransmit the message using a differentcommunication protocol or also using BLUETOOTH® communication pbrotocol.

[0073] Active system 200 may also include a second transceiver or awired interface 260 having access to another communication network. Thesecond transceiver or wired interface may retransmit the signal receivedfrom the device or received from some other device. In this way, centralcommunication active system 200 may serve to extend the communicationrange of the device. For example, a message between the device and anemergency-dispatch center may be coupled to communication with theactive system 200 connected network and a short-range wireless network.Communications between the present subject matter and a device coupledto communicate with the active system 200 connected network may beconsidered long-range communications.

[0074] Active system 200 may also communicate bi-directionally withinthe premise with one or more additional compatible devices. These may bea second device or any other device.

[0075] The active system 200 connected network 160 may be a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), a pager communication network, acellular communication network, a radio communication network, theInternet, or some other communication network. It will be furtherappreciated that with a suitable repeater, gateway, switch, router,bridge or network interface, the effective range of communication of ashort-range transceiver may be extended to any distance. For example,active system 200 may receive transmissions on a BLUETOOTH®communication protocol and provide an interface to connect with theactive system 200 connected network 160, such as the public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) using the active system 200 link. In this case,a wired telephone at a remote location can be used to communicate withthe device. As another example, the range may be extended by coupling aBLUETOOTH® transceiver with a cellular telephone network, a narrow bandpersonal communication systems (PCS) network, a CELLEMETRY® network, anarrow band trunk radio network or other type of wired or wirelesscommunication network.

[0076] Examples of devices compatible with such long-range protocolsinclude, but are not limited to, a telephone coupled to the publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone, a pager (eitherone way or two-way), a personal communication device (such as a personaldigital assistant, PDA), a computer, or other wired or wirelesscommunication device.

[0077] In one embodiment, the network 160 may include a long-distancetelephone network, which may include an intranet or the Internet.Coupling to such a network may be accomplished, for example, using avariety of connections, including a leased line connection, such as aT-1, an ISDN, a DSL line, or other high-speed broadband connection, orit may entail a dial-up connection using a modem. In one embodiment, thenetwork 160 may include a radio frequency or satellite communicationnetwork. In addition, one or more of the aforementioned networks may becombined to achieve desired results.

[0078] Short-range communication protocols, compatible with the activesystem 200 may include, but are not limited to, wireless protocols suchas HomeRF™, BLUETOOTH®, wireless LAN (WLAN), or other personal wirelessnetworking technology. HomeRF™, currently defined by specification 2.1,provides support for broadband wireless digital communications at afrequency of approximately 2.45 GHz.

[0079] Other long-range and short-range communication protocols are alsocontemplated and the foregoing examples are not to be construed aslimitations but merely as examples.

[0080] The active system 200 may be compatible with more than onecommunication protocol. For example, the active system 200 may becompatible with three protocols, such as a cellular telephonecommunication protocol, a two-way pager communication protocol, andBLUETOOTH® protocol. In such a case, a particular the device may beoperable using a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, or a devicecompatible with BLUETOOTH®.

[0081] In one embodiment, the device can communicate with a remotedevice using more than one communication protocol. For example, thedevice may include programming to determine which protocol to use forcommunicating.

[0082] The determination of which communication protocol to use tocommunicate with a remote device may be based on power requirements ofeach transceiver, based on the range to the remote device, based on aschedule, based on the most recent communication from the remote device,or based on any other measurable parameter. In one embodiment, thedevice communicates simultaneously using multiple protocols.

[0083] In one embodiment, signals generated by the device are receivedby a central monitoring station. The central monitoring station mayinclude operators that provide emergency dispatch services. An operatorat the central monitoring station may also attempt to verify theauthenticity of a received alarm signal. In one embodiment, the alarmsignal generated by the device is first transmitted to a user, usingeither a short-range or long-range communication protocol, who then mayforward the alarm signal to a monitoring station if authentic or cancelthe alarm signal if the alarm is not valid.

[0084] In one embodiment, the device may communicate with a buildingcontrol or security system by communicating using its transceiver. Forexample, the device may operate as an auxiliary input to a buildingcontrol or security system. In which case, if the device detects asecurity event, by way of a sensor coupled to the device, then an alarmsignal is transmitted from the device, via its transceiver, to thebuilding security system. The building security system, if monitored bya central monitoring station, then forwards the alarm signal to themonitoring station. In one embodiment, the device can receive atransmission from a separate building control or security system. If thebuilding security system detects an alarm condition, then the securitysystem can, for example, instruct the device to repeatedly toggle powerto load a flashing light visible from the exterior of the building mayaid emergency personnel in locating an emergency site. Alternatively,the device can establish communications with a predetermined remotedevice or a central monitoring service.

[0085] In one embodiment, there are various types of networks connectedto the active system 200. These may be telephone networks, modemconnections, frame relay systems, spread-spectrum, DSL, cable modems,dedicated line or other similar wire based communication and datanetworks. In addition, these may be long-range, bi-directional, wirelessnetworks as describe above.

[0086] In one embodiment, there is a connection to the Internet usingvarious Internet protocols such as TCP/IP/HTTP/HTCP and others.

[0087] In addition, feedback may be transmitted to a remote device basedon the operation of the device. For example, if a user issues a commandto the device using the cellular telephone, then the display of thephone will indicate the changes arising from the command. In oneembodiment, the cellular telephone, the active system 200, emergencymonitoring center, or other device, displays real time information fromthe device.

[0088] Various methods may be used to communicate with, or send amessage or instruction to, the device from a remote location. Forexample, using a cellular telephone, a user may speak a particularphrase, word or phoneme that is recognized by the cellular telephonewhich then generates and transmits a coded message to the device. Asanother example, the user may manipulate a keypad on the telephone toencode and transmit a message to the device.

[0089] In one embodiment, there are multiple destinations for thetransmitted information. This may include a active system 200 (at ahome), multiple cell phones (or other network devices—for example, tonotify a parent of the use of the device) or an emergency-dispatchingcenter.

[0090] About the Sleeping Device

[0091] In certain embodiments, the sleeping device 300 may take a widevariety of physical forms, shapes, sizes, and protective housings tomeet the application requirements. They may be similar in shape to agrain of rice, a pencil lead, a match, a stamp, etc. They may beinserted beneath the skin, dispersed in the environment, attached tostructures, flow in fluid within a pipe or in a tank, attached to otherdevices, integrated in the circuit of another system, etc. They may bedesigned to withstand a wide variety of environmental conditions such astemperature, humidity, exposure to chemicals, shock, vibration, etc.

[0092] In certain embodiments, sleeping device 300 often acts as theinterface between the physical world and electronic world. Therefore itis often associated with sensors of various types; for example,temperature, humidity, chemical agents, biological agents, light,vibration, location technologies such as GPS, loran, etc., bodilyfunctions such as respiration, heartbeat, blood chemistry, brainwaves,etc.

[0093] The sleeping device 300 may, for example, be implemented as anextension to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. An RFID tagis, typically, a small, battery-free transponder. When the transponderis to be read, a reading device sends out a radio frequency power pulseto the antenna of the transponder, which is tuned to the same frequencyas the reader. The magnetic field generated by the reader is collectedby the transponder's antenna, rectified, and stored on a small capacitorwithin the transponder. When the power pulse has finished, thetransponder immediately transmits back its data, using the energy storedwithin its capacitor as its power source. Thus, the RFID transponder ispowered-off, or sleeping, until it is woken up by the radio frequencysignal from the reading device.

[0094] Examples of Embodiments

[0095] In a first embodiment, the sleeping device 300 may beincorporated into a sensor of a security system, for example, a glassbreakage sensor. To conserve power, the sensor's wireless communicationstransceiver 380 is normally powered down, while the sensor itself andits processor draw enough power to respond to a breakage event. Upondetecting glass breakage, the sensor/processor module can power up thewireless communications transceiver 380 and use it to transmit signalsassociated with the detected event to a central control panel. Inaddition, the central control panel may query the sensor as to itsstatus by sending a wake-up signal to the sensor's wake-up receiver 320.When the wake-up receiver 320 detects the radio frequency energy of thequery, the receiver 320 can power up the wireless communicationstransceiver 380, which can then send status data to the central controlpanel.

[0096] In a second embodiment, the sleeping device 300 may beincorporated into an implanted medical device such as a combinationheart monitor/defibrillator that is implanted in a person's body. Themonitor/defibrillator draws enough power to monitor the heartbeat and torespond to fibrillation by beginning defibrillation, but themonitor/defibrillator's wireless communications transceiver 380 isnormally powered down to conserve power. However, the battery of themonitor/defibrillator has a limited lifetime, and it is necessary for amedical professional to query the status of the battery periodically. Toavoid subjecting the patient to additional surgery, a reading device maysend a wake-up signal to the wake-up receiver 320 of the sleeping device300. The receiver 320 can then power up the wireless communicationstransceiver 380, which in turn can send data on the battery's charge tothe reading device. Similar processes can be used to readelectrocardiogram signals, program the device, or send or receive otherdata related to the device.

CONCLUSION

[0097] Other embodiments are possible and the examples provided hereinare intended to be demonstrative and not exclusive or exhaustive of thepresent invention, which is determined by the scope of the appendedclaims and the full range of equivalents to which they are entitled.

What is claimed:
 1. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising: (a)a wake-up receiver adapted to receive a wake-up signal over a secondarynetwork; and (b) an initially powered-off, sleeping wirelesscommunications transceiver communicating over a primary network andadapted to be powered on by the wake-up receiver when the wake-upreceiver receives the wake-up signal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the wake-up receiver only draws power from the wake-up signal.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wake-up receiver and thepowered-off, sleeping wireless communications transceiver sharecomponents.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary network andthe secondary network use the same frequency band.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the primary network and the secondary network usedifferent frequency bands.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesecondary network is bi-directional, the wake-up receiver being atransceiver.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wake-up receiveris powered by a power source distinct from that powering the wirelesscommunications transceiver.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thewake-up receiver receives data other than the wake-up signal.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the data is an identification code, andfurther comprising a filter comparing the received identifier code to astored code.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein components associatedwith the sleeping wireless communications transceiver are activated ifthe identifier code matches the stored code.
 11. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the data is a security protocol governing the activation ofthe primary network.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data is aquery to the sleeping wireless communications transceiver, which returnsa response to the query.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the datais an activation signal causing the secondary network to take over thefunction of the primary network.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe secondary network utilizes a magnetic signal.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the secondary network utilizes a radio frequencysignal.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary networkutilizes short-range data communications protocols.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the short-range data communications protocols areselected from the group consisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15,and IEEE 802.11.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primarynetwork utilizes short-range data communications protocols.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, wherein the short-range data communicationsprotocols are selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™,IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11, an ad hoc networking.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a long-range bi-directional transceiverassociated with the sleeping wireless communications transceiver. 21.The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a remote systemcommunicating with the long-range bi-directional transceiver over along-range network.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thelong-range network utilizes communications protocols selected from thegroup consisting of CDPD, CDMA, GSM, 3G, WAP, Aloha, PDC, PHS, PCS,trunk radio, TDMA, FLEX™, ReFLEX™, iDEN™, TETRA™, DECT, DataTAC™,Mobitex™, RAMNET™, and Ardis™.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, whereinthe long-range network utilizes communications protocols selected fromthe group consisting of POCSAG, MBS, RDS, ERMES, Golay Format, NEC-D3Format, Mark IV/V/VI Formats, Hexadecimal Sequential Code, FLEX™ format,Advanced Paging Operations Code, ReFLEX™ format, inflexion format, andNexNet format.
 24. The apparatus of claim 8, where the data comprisesconnection information to accelerate the activation of the sleepingwireless communications transceiver to communicate with other systems.25. The apparatus of claim 24, where the data is selected from the groupconsisting of timing data, frequency hopping patterns, and networkprotocols.
 26. Apparatus for waking a powered-off, sleeping, wirelesscommunications transceiver, comprising: (a) a wake-up transmitteradapted to transmit a wake-up signal over a secondary network to thesleeping, wireless communications transceiver, and (b) a bi-directionalwireless communications transceiver communicating over a primarynetwork.
 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the wake-up transmitterand the bi-directional wireless communications transceiver sharecomponents.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the wake-up signal isadapted to provide power to the sleeping, wireless communicationstransceiver.
 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the primary networkand the secondary network use the same frequency band.
 30. The apparatusof claim 26, wherein the primary network and the secondary network usedifferent frequency bands.
 31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein thesecondary network utilizes short-range data communications protocols.32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the short-range datacommunications protocols are selected from the group consisting ofBluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11.
 33. The apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein the primary network utilizes short-range datacommunications protocols.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein theshort-range data communications protocols are selected from the groupconsisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11, an adhoc networking.
 35. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising along-range bi-directional transceiver associated with the bidirectionalwireless communications transceiver.
 36. The apparatus of claim 35,further comprising a remote system communicating with the long-rangebi-directional transceiver over a long-range network.
 37. The apparatusof claim 36, wherein the long-range network utilizes communicationsprotocols selected from the group consisting of CDPD, CDMA, GSM, 3G,WAP, Aloha, PDC, PHS, PCS, trunk radio, TDMA, FLEX™, ReFLEX™, iDEN™,TETRA™, DECT, DataTAC™, Mobitex™, RAMNET™, and Ardis™.
 38. The apparatusof claim 36, wherein the long-range network utilizes communicationsprotocols selected from the group consisting of POCSAG, MBS, RDS, ERMES,Golay Format, NEC-D3 Format, Mark IV/V/VI Formats, HexadecimalSequential Code, FLEX™ format, Advanced Paging Operations Code, ReFLEX™format, inflexion format, and NexNet format.
 39. Wireless communicationsapparatus, comprising: (a) an active system having a wake-up transmittertransmitting a wake-up signal over a secondary network, and abi-directional wireless communications transceiver; and (b) a sleepingsystem having a wake-up receiver receiving the wake-up signal, and apowered-off wireless communications transceiver adapted to communicatewith the active system's bi-directional wireless communicationstransceiver over a primary network; wherein the powered-off wirelesscommunications transceiver enters a powered-on state in communicationwith the active system's bi-directional wireless communicationstransceiver upon receipt of the wake-up signal.
 40. The apparatus ofclaim 39, further comprising a short-range, wireless secondary networkcarrying a wake-up signal from the wake-up transmitter to the wake-upreceiver.
 41. Communications apparatus, comprising: (a) an active systemhaving a wake-up transmitter transmitting a wake-up signal over asecondary network, and a bi-directional wireless communicationstransceiver; and (b) a sleeping system having a wake-up receiverreceiving the wake-up signal, and a powered-off wireless communicationstransceiver adapted to communicate with the active system'sbi-directional wireless communications transceiver over a primarynetwork; (c) wherein the secondary network utilizes short-range datacommunications protocols selected from the group consisting ofBluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11 wherein thepowered-off wireless communications transceiver enters a powered-onstate in communication with the active system's bi-directional wirelesscommunications transceiver upon receipt of the wake-up signal.
 42. Amethod of waking a powered-off, sleeping wireless communicationsapparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a wake-up signalover a secondary network from an active system having a wake-uptransmitter and a bi-directional wireless communications transceivercommunicating over a primary network; (b) receiving the wake-up signalat a wake-up receiver in the sleeping wireless communications apparatus;and (c) the wake-up receiver causing the sleeping wirelesscommunications apparatus to enter a powered-on state and to communicateover the primary network.
 43. Communications apparatus, comprising: (a)an active system having a wake-up transmitter transmitting a wake-upsignal over a secondary network, a bi-directional wirelesscommunications transceiver, and a long-range bidirectional transceiver;and (b) a sleeping system having a wake-up receiver receiving thewake-up signal, and a powered-off wireless communications transceiveradapted to communicate with the active system's bi-directional wirelesscommunications transceiver over a primary network; (c) wherein thesecondary network utilizes short-range data communications protocolsselected from the group consisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15,and IEEE 802.11, wherein the powered-off wireless communicationstransceiver enters a powered-on state in communication with the activesystem's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver upon receiptof the wake-up signal.
 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein thelong-range bidirectional transceiver utilizes communications protocolsselected from the group consisting of CDPD, CDMA, GSM, 3G, WAP, Aloha,PDC, PHS, PCS, trunk radio, TDMA, FLEX™, ReFLEX™, iDEN™, TETRA™, DECT,DataTAC™, Mobitex™, RAMNET™, and Ardis™.